S.C. GOP Takes Stand on Medicaid Payments

South Carolina Republicans have pushed through a measure to cut a “special interest” provision in state law that set Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals, the Post and Courier reports.

That provision, or proviso, had made the rates paid to South Carolina doctors and hospitals for treating Medicaid patients among the highest in the country. Those payments were ranked 16th highest in the nation. The state’s Medicaid agency is the only one in the country that doesn’t allow those payments to be cut.

Gov. Nikki Haley lauded the move as “courageous.”

"Senators chose the people and patients of South Carolina over the special interests -- this was a huge win for our state," Haley said.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, a Gaffney Republican, led the charge to get rid of the proviso, which is a set of instruction in the budget that can be added at the request of agencies or lawmakers. This move is often used to fund pet projects.